Do you ever start a book without any expectations? I’ve read dual timeline before, and I love them. But I’ve never read Heidi Chiavaroli before. Until now.

Straight away, I connected with Hayley. She’s out to prove herself, and no one is a harder taskmaster than her own conscious. She’s fierce, independent, and an all-out warrior who will do anything to become more than her past.

Then, we meet Emma. Equally powerful character. Born into a world ripping itself apart, Emma has to choose which is more important: Liberty or Loyalty.

The male counterparts to each timeline built on the essence of the story. They pushed and pulled with equal fervor while never taking away from the journey.

I loved that Heidi Chiavaroli took Hayley’s deepest insecurities and fears and used them to reveal her greatest success. She showed grace in the face of failure and strength in overcoming her fears. We are all a product of our past, and The Tea Chest proves to be a reminder that our past has the power to hold great courage. Keep what you need. Get rid of the rest. Don’t carry the weight of your past and allow it to keep you from the beauty of your future.

I could not put this book down. I absolutely had to know how it would end and how Emma and Hayley’s stories would collide. The author did a marvelous job weaving their stories together and the end result created a novel I’m sure to read again and again.

I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I so enjoyed this book. I really couldn't put it down. The author writes with great detail that immerses you in revolutionary Boston as easily as modern day California. I was struck by the amount of research that she must have done to create the Navy Seal training scenes. As a lover of historical romance, the historical thread was probably my favorite. As a woman in the 18th century, Emma Malcolm didn't have many choices but when put to the test, she chose to follow her own convictions when it came to both love and politics. The patriot, Noah Winslow, was a totally swoon worthy hero. Chivaroli's contemporary heroine, Hayley Ashworth, was multi-dimensional and flawed, and I couldn't help rooting for her to overcome her past and learn to trust in something bigger than herself. I loved the spiritual elements of this story-- that freedom is found when we surrender our lives, our plans, and our future to God. Both of Chivaroli's heroines come from somewhat dysfunctional homes and both characters are searching for somewhere to belong. I thought it was very clever that the author had Hayley learn this lesson from her distant ancestor, Emma, through Emma's private writings. I think all of us yearn to belong, and everyone will be able to relate to the struggles these characters face.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The Tea Chest was one of my most anticipated reads of 2020, and it was well worth the wait. I’m convinced that Chiavaroli is the queen of dual-time narratives. Both the contemporary and the historical narratives are compulsively readable. There’s never a point that I desired to be back in one when I was in the other, rather I was always eager to “be” in whatever part of the story I found myself in. I couldn’t put the book down, but at the same time, I tried my best not to rush through it, wanting to savor the experience.

Hayley Ashworth is a strong woman. Determined to be the first woman to make it through BUD/S to be a Navy Seal, she returns home to make peace with a negligent mother and to mentally prepare herself for the intense training ahead. What she doesn’t bargain for is running into her first love, Ethan, nor discovering the engrossing story of Emma Malcolm, a woman who lived during the Revolutionary War. Coming face to face with her own past is harrowing enough, and she finds connection in Emma's story.

Emma’s strength is of a different sort; not always strong physically, she possesses a mental and spiritual fortitude that propels her to join a cause in direct contention with her family. I loved the historical details about the Boston Tea Party. I honestly felt like I learned while reading this story, but never felt overwhelmed by information. Everything just flows so well, and both timelines intertwine masterfully. Emma’s story was especially poignant to me; despite being a historical character, I had many similarities with her – certainly not anything I would have chosen, but I adored her strong vulnerability.

I think what I am continually impressed by in Chiavaroli’s stories is she turns failure on its head. Whatever the worst thing it seems like the character could face, she presents them with that. The worst possible outcome shouldn’t be desirable, right? But this is where they shine. This is when they dig deep, surrender not to an external force, but rather their tight-fisted hold on what they feel their life should be and the inability to undo the decisions that lead them to the moment. Because that’s what life is sometimes, getting to the end of yourself and realizing that, yes, it is more than you can bear, but there is a God that meets you at the end of yourself. And in that surrender, there is a precious freedom because no circumstance or pain can take that away.

The Tea Chest is the first novel of the year to make it onto my 2020 favorites shelf. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up, especially if you enjoy dual-time narratives, strong characterization, and authentic history. Highly recommended!

The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli is a magnificent time-slip novel that interweaves the excitement and uncertainty of a woman Patriot in the Revolutionary period with the life of a woman who is attempting to be the first female U.S. Navy SEAL.
This is only the second time-slip novel I’ve read, and it quickly became my favorite. Although the timeline jumps a couple of hundred years between Emma’s story of fighting for liberty with the Patriots in and around Boston and Hayley’s quest to prove herself strong and brave enough to be a SEAL, there is a definite connection between the two characters that grows as the novel progresses. I felt the amount of time spent in each time period was perfect. I never felt jerked around or confused about where I was in the novel. And although I am a huge historical fiction fan, I found myself intrigued by Hayley’s contemporary story and her journey in finding herself. I couldn’t wait to see how it would all come together!
Which is more honorable--loyalty or liberty?
Being a patriotic person myself and total lover of American history, I quickly became immersed in Emma’s story during the Revolutionary period. This story highlights several doubts about the time. Was freedom worth the loss of life? Was it right to gain freedom through dishonorable acts? Where should your loyalty truly lie--king, country, family? Ms. Chiavaroli does a magnificent job of bringing many of these issues to light and in effect adding such a richness to her characters and the story overall.
While in a contemporary setting, Hayley’s life has many similarities with Emma, and as she strives to overcome the brokenness of her past she is haunted by similar questions about liberty. Is freedom really being independent? Is independence worth the cost of being disloyal? Are courage and strength merely the by-product of training?
I loved how the tea chest served as a connection between the two women separated by time but not by circumstances. It was thrilling to discover the history of the chest with Hayley and Ethan and experience the heart-stopping danger of living the life of a Patriot with Emma and Noah.
If you are a fan of time-slip novels, then you will enjoy this book. I personally think historical fiction fans will enjoy it, too, as even the contemporary story has so much history in every detail. And although the romance is not at the forefront of the story, it will still satisfy those who are romantic at heart and who enjoy clean romance.
I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli is a split time novel. It features two strong women from two different centuries. Emma Malcolm is interested in politics despite being told it is unladylike and inappropriate. While her father is loyal to the King in 1773 Boston, Emma sides with those who are against the tyranny of the crown with their endless taxes. Emma has fallen for printer’s apprentice, Noah Winslow. Unfortunately, her father has betrothed Emma to Samuel Clarke whose father is an importer. Emma finds herself making a terrible choice if she wishes to protect those she loves. Hayley Ashworth is in the Navy and will soon begin SEAL training. She wants her mind clear for the upcoming rigorous training, so she journeys home to Medford, Massachusetts to talk with her mother (a drug addict). Hayley runs into her old flame, Ethan which brings up feelings that she has buried for the last six years. After being gifted an old tea chest, Hayley discovers a secret hidden within it that sends her searching for answers. Hayley learns about the tea chest and so much more. I enjoyed reading The Tea Chest. It is a compelling novel featuring two women who must have strength if they are get through what lies ahead for them. I thought The Tea Chest was well-written with developed characters. The author captured the 1770s beautifully with the language, the clothing, and people’s attitudes. Heidi Chiavaroli depicts the events that led up to the American Revolution. We see people tired of the excessive taxes, tarring and feathering, the Boston Tea Party, and Bunker Hill. It was a violent time and the author did not hold back. Faith is interwoven into the story. Emma is a woman of faith along with Noah, while Hayley still needs to find God. I like how we are shown the importance of prayer and believing in God. It is wonderful how the two sections came together into one complete story. The Tea Chest is a riveting novel that will have staying up into the wee hours to finish it (prepare for book hangover the next day). The Tea Chest has an unfeeling father, a tea chest, a reprobate husband-to-be, an intrepid printer’s apprentice, a round robin, and heroic women.

"The Tea Chest" is an historical fiction book . The book goes back and forth between the past and the present. The past is 1773 during the Patriots and England during the Boston Tea party. There is the struggle for independence in Boston and England struggling for their continued control of the colonies. You will feel like you have stepped into history when you read this well written and researched book. Emma is the character in the Boston period. She supports the Patriots but her father is not happy with her stance. does all she can to support her husband in the battle for independence. She is loyal and dependable. There are many obstacles toward their road to independence. I like the connection the author makes with the present. I know it was a lot of work and time to put all these connections with the past and present together. I am excited for the release of this excellent historical fiction book. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read and review this excellent book. I will post my review on Amazon, facebook, Goodreads, my blog , for church staff..

Heidi Chiavaroli is one of my go-to authors for historical fiction. I love her stories & this one is no exception! This dual timeline tale tells the story of two women from different time periods, who discover how strong they are as they fight for life, liberty & happiness. Don’t miss this one! It’s a favorite.

This one quickly became a page turner, and really didn’t want it to end. The author did a wonderful job of tying this story together from the past to the present.
I loved the historical aspect of this book, and we get to walk in these amazing character’s shoes!
We switch between 1700’s to present day, from Revolutionary times to readying to join the Navy Seals. From the terror of fighting for a cause to again training for a cause.
I loved how all of my questions were answers, maybe not how I wanted them. Be sure to read the author’s notes at the end!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Tyndale, and was not required to give a positive review.

The Tea Chest
I knew from the moment I saw the cover of this book that I wanted to read it! Once again Heidi Chiavaroli has managed to capture a well know period of time and transport readers to experience it through her words. Her writing is completely captivating! This book is expertly crafted, intertwining historical and present day storylines. Heidi Chiavaroli is extremely gifted at writing such raw and real characters that I always race to the authors notes when I finish to see which characters are real and which are fictional. This was a very tumultuous period of time in history and the historical characters experience this first hand. I appreciated the realistic approach that the author took with this story, however it wasn’t a light read. You can feel the pains and the heartaches of these characters as they face hardship after hardship.
The present day storyline was was an interesting historical scavenger hunt for the characters. Hailey was harder for me to like as a character. Her tendency to protect herself and run away from relationships made her a tough character to like. While this book is extremely well written, it also is heavier and more emotionally traumatic than I prefer. I feel that is the nature of the time period, and the author realistically portrayed things. I would have loved more romance in both storylines, and I would have loved a little more relief from the pain and hardship as the historical story continued. However, these are personal preferences! I was a little sad at the conclusion of this book, but it does answer any lingering questions that the reader may have concerning both storylines.
If you are looking for a story with rich and authentic historical descriptions and a blending of historical and modern day themes, you should most definitely add The Tea Chest to your reading list.

The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli
5 stars

Book blurb:
Boston, 1773
Emma Malcolm's father is staunchly loyal to the crown, but Emma's heart belongs to Noah Winslow, a lowly printer's assistant and Patriot. But her father has promised her hand to Samuel Clarke, a rapacious and sadistic man. As his fiance, she would have to give up Noah and the friends who have become like family to her--as well as the beliefs she has come to embrace.

After Emma is drawn into the treasonous Boston Tea Party, Samuel blackmails her with evidence that condemns each participant, including Noah. Emma realizes she must do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, even if it means giving up the life she desires and becoming Samuel's wife.

Present Day
Lieutenant Hayley Ashworth is determined to be the first woman inducted into the elite Navy SEALs. But before her dream can be realized, she must return to Boston in order to put the abuse and neglect of her childhood behind her. When an unexpected encounter with the man she once loved leads to the discovery of a tea chest and the document hidden within, she wonders if perhaps true strength and freedom are buried deeper than she first realized.

Two women, separated by centuries, must find the strength to fight for love and freedom. . . and discover a heritage of courage and faith.

*

A gripping, riveting time slip novel that weaves effortlessly between Revolutionary War time Boston and present day.

We follow Hayley in present day as she discovers The Tea Chest and discovers its history and who possessed it before her. She has had a scarred past and as she learns about Emma, she also discovers that no matter where you are in time an eternal God can strengthen and restore.


The author asks a very intriguing question that made me pause and think. Which is more important: Loyalty or Liberty?
Emma is torn between her family who are loyal to the King of England and to the Sons of Liberty who are fighting for freedom and thier very lives.
It made me think, could I leave my family behind for the love of a good man and for freedom from hierarchy? Its something I'm still thinking about.
I give this novel 5 stars! Highly recommend!
*

There is often historical fiction where the story is not focused on the history, but the relationships within the book.
In this time slip fiction, both women were seeking to find who they were outside of their family of origin. They sought to find fulfillment in sacrificing themselves and what they wanted to help others.
I loved the lessons in this story, both main characters were grappling and losing with finding their identity. The realization of who they were and how it had nothing to do with what they did and did not do was incredible.
The relationships in the books are very secondary and this would not be considered a romance, but more women's fiction. I truly enjoyed it!

I obtained this book from the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.

Heidi Chiavaroli is master of the time-slip novel! She always writes stories that pull you in and make you invested in the characters and their lives. I always get so into whichever story that I am reading, that I don’t want to switch back!

The historical part of this story takes place around the Boston Tea party and subsequent Revolutionary War. I really liked both Noah and Emma. Without going into spoiler territory, I would say that the historical part was very informative and very realistic. Sometimes, for me, it was a bit too realistic. I would’ve also liked a little more romance with Noah and Emma.

The contemporary story revolves around a mysterious written oath that Ethan and Hayley find in an old chest that might date all the way back to the Boston Tea Party. I really liked how Ethan and Hayley worked together to solve the mystery of the oath and chest. My issue with this part of the story was Hayley. She was a character I just could not connect with. I felt like some of the things she said and did were inexcusable. Ethan, on the other hand, was my favorite character. He was wonderful and very easy to like!

I love Heidi Chiavaroli’s writing style and her time-slips are some of my favorites to read. Her characters really stick with you. If you haven’t read her stories yet, I highly recommend them!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Passion for American history shines through as this author gives readers a front row seat to events leading up to and those after the Boston Tea party, through the eyes of tender-hearted Emma Malcom and her family.

I enjoy how this author masterfully weaves together the Boston Tea party story and one in current time with an incredible journey of the first women to make an attempt at becoming a navy seal. Both story lines are engaging and gripping. I hated when one story line switched because I was emotionally involved in both stories, on the edge of my seat wanting to know more. I appreciated the author notes at the end telling readers which parts of history were real and what she added to make the story flow.

The reader gets an up-close and personal look at the situations each of these characters face and the choices they must make, realizing some would be a matter of life and/or death. Would they stand strong, or would they cave? Some questioned if they were doing the right thing? Could they rely on God and his strength in their time of need. Would He do far more than they could ever imagine. Both of these courageous women seek answers to these tough questions.

This was a nail-biting story I couldn’t put down. It’s rich in character, history and story. It would work well for your next book club pick.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com

<i>The Tea Chest</i> is a split-time novel set in present-day and Revolutionary War-era Boston, Massachusetts. As the title suggests, a tea chest plays an important role in the story and serves as the main connecting point between the modern and historical characters. The modern day character, Hayley, comes from a dysfunctional family and has tried to find herself through a Navy career and attempting to become a Navy Seal. The home life of Revolutionary War character Emma isn't much better and she struggles to decide if loyalty or liberty is a greater virtue. The story centers around Emma and her involvement in the war effort. Hayley learns of Emma's story while researching the tea chest and discovers Emma's story is more important personally than she first anticipated.

<i>The Tea Chest</i> is a well-done historical novel that uses the split-time technique effectively to introduce the story and to provide a backdrop which sets the stage for each new development in addition to a interesting sub-plot. While published by Tyndale House, a Christian publisher, the story is not overly Christian or religious beyond the characters praying and a few references to Jesus and heaven which don't stand out much as they are fit into the historical time period. If I was not aware that I was reading a book from a Christian publishing house, I would not have realized it is supposed to fall into the "religious/Christian fiction" category.

I received an ARC of this book from Tyndale House via NetGalley.

With The Tea Chest, Heidi Chiavorli dives into an important moment in American history and brought it to life for readers. I really liked learning more about the Boston Tea Party and seeing the struggles from the character's perspective. This is why I enjoy diving into historical fiction because I always learn more from the story than a texbook. Even though I enjoyed the historical time line, there is also a contemporary timeline trying to solve the mystery of what happened with the historical timeline. Both characters are brave and have the time to show that and believe they are brave through their actions. Both characters transform by the end of the story. Overall, The Tea Chest is a delightful read. Chiavorli really did her research. I highly recommend this story for fans of American history. Maybe even pass it on to younger readers who are bored with history. Maybe they won't find history so boring anymore.

I received a complimentary copy of The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavorli through Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Wow! Just...WOW!!! This is the first book I've read by Heidi Chiavaroli, but it definitely will not be the last. The stunning cover of The Tea Chest immediately caught my eye and peaked my curiosity, I'd never even heard of Heidi Chiavaroli, so thank you amazing cover art designer I might not have picked up this book if it were not for you!

I finished reading this book and my heart ached. This book is brilliantly written and Heidi Chiavaroli does not shy away from making her characters go through hard things. I didn't really know much about the Boston Tea Party before reading this book other than they dumped tea in the harbor. The authenticity of this story and the question of which is better....liberty or loyalty, really brought to life the sacrifices made by those who have gone before us in the name of freedom.

I typically read historical fiction over contemporary fiction so I would have to say that I preferred Emma's story, but Hayley's story was equally compelling. Both females struggled with the question of liberty or loyalty, but I feel like both discovered that even more important was the question of love. Loving one another and loving who God created us to be. Love is the greatest of all.

If you enjoy historical fiction I hightly recommend you read this book.

The Tea Chest by Heidi Chiavaroli will be available for purchase from your local or online book retailer February 4, 2020.
Thank you Tyndale House Publishers and Net Galley for the free advanced copy of The Tea Chest. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Whatever you call them, time slip or dual timeline, this is very quickly becoming a favorite genre, and even before this read Heidi Chiavaroli held a place on my "must read authors" list. She writes with such vivid imagery (without going overboard) that it feels as if you've stepped right into the setting yourself. 

Something unique about this read compared to most other books I've read in the genre, is that there were several chapters in between jumping between the timelines. Instead of switching back and forth every chapter, it was more like every three or 4 chapters. Sometimes I liked it because I could spend more time in each timeline before moving on, but at other times I felt like I would have liked to bounce between them more. I don't know if I could share any strong opinions either way on this. I think it's more your individual preference as a reader.

I'm honestly not sure which timeline was my favorite in this one. I think I might go with the historical however in many ways I could resonate with Hayley's personality so much that I couldn't help but feel a connection with her. Our pasts are not the same, but our personalities are. Like Hayley I'm a runner. When things get tough I run instead of facing whatever is causing pain. It wasn't hard for me at all to get behind her and hope that she could overcome her fears to find healing and happiness.

Yet while I could resonate more with Hayley, Emma's story captivated my attention. It had the most action, excitement, and danger. Full warning there were a few scenes with some graphic injuries described but they also could have been worse. Emma did not have an easy road and I found myself clinging to hope for her future happiness. Her timeline was rich with real history and I came away feeling a deeper appreciation for times and the people who were responsible for it all. It left me intrigued to know more.

As with Heidi Chiavaroli's other books, I really enjoyed this read. It's clear that she has a deep appreciation for history and shining light on it through story. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

*I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House through Netgalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

This book was so beautifully written and captivated me from the beginning. I am not usually a fan of time slip novels, but I have loved both of the ones I have read from Heidi Chiavaroli. She has a way of bringing the times together in a way I haven't experienced in any other book.

I loved all of these characters. They felt real and I felt like I could relate to them. I love history, and the Revolutionary War particularly so I loved how well this was done. I felt it was historically accurate and well portrayed.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Even if you aren't a fan of this type of book, give it a try, it might surprise you.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book in hopes that I would give an honest review. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.*

Fascinating dual timeline story! True historical events leading up to and during the Revolutionary War are sprinkled throughout Emma's quest for the answer to the question - which is more honorable loyalty or liberty? Fast forward to present; Haley strives to overcome her past by pursuing to become a Navy seal. Both women are loyal to their country but must seek a greater power to endure their endeavor. The historical facts and characters in this novel makes the entire story seem real. Love the historical note at the end that sorts truth and fiction. Highly recommended!

Heidi Chiavaroli has become one of my favorite authors. I just can't get enough of her writing and always anxiously await her next novel. Heidi does an excellent job crafting a story, the descriptive writing drawing you in and bringing you right in the midst of the story. In The Tea Chest, I was held captive by Emma's gripping story, and felt Hayley's struggle to overcome her past and her view of herself. This time slip novel touches on timeless common struggles of humanity. I received an ARC for my honest opinion.